AN: Thanks for the review and support on this story. I have a story that is being Beta'ed and if you feel like this one has too many mistakes for you, I have that one up. Also I'm not writing for popularity, I do it because I enjoy it and I love to char what others have to say.
It had been several months since Regina's declaration but despite everything the girl had pulled away drastically from Emma once she left Oz. Even going to great lengths such as denying Emma's mirror calls and refusing to speak with her. Today a ball at Oz brought them together but Regina still steered clear of her.
Emma watched Regina from a distance. The way she moved and her mannerisms. The Dark Princess was a flirt, often sending out flirtatious smiles and lingering touches to her pet of the day. Her reputation was widely know, she was considered a head hunter of sorts. Once she set her eye's on something she didn't let it go until she got what she was after. Emma glared at the Princess who was conversing with one of the Royal Guards, Robin Hood. Regina had already had several glasses of aged wine and she was getting clingy, letting her hand rest on Robin's thigh. The guard didn't seem opposed to the advances, instead refilling her cup whenever it was empty.
"Princess this is a ball, you should be enjoying the time you have away from Oz and the little time you have left before it is time for you to reclaim your throne." Cora practically glided when she walked, handing Emma a glass of wine.
"Yes, I guess I should be." Emma replied tersely, not tearing away from Robin and Regina.
"She doesn't mean anything by it. Although she does not voice it, her heart is yours alone." Cora followed the Swan's gaze.
"Yet I am always her last choice." Emma watched Regina and Robin sneak out of the great hall.
"She has a difficult time showing her feelings. She chooses to run from them, she is running from you by proxy. I have no doubt she'll come around given time." Cora spoke confidently
"With all due respect, I'm not sure if I'm content waiting for her to 'come around'. If you'll excuse me I'm feeling a bit run down." Emma handed her now empty wine glass to one of the waiters before walking the same way Regina had left out. She didn't have to go far before she hit muffled moans and heavy panting. Robin had Regina pressed up against the wall, with the tail of her dress bunched up as he ground into her.
"Her room is only thirty paces up the corridor. It would do you well to make the journey there before you continue further." Emma said coldly watching as they sprung apart.
"Your majesty...I-My deepest apologies." Robin blushed but Regina refused to meet her eyes.
"Yes well, I've had a very tiring day. If you'll excuse me." Emma began walking faster as the tears behind her eye's let her know they would soon fall.
"Emma..." She heard Regina call out to her and the clicking of heels before she pictured her room and vanished in a puff of white magic. Peeling back the heavy royal gown, Emma walked into her en suite before preparing her bath. Steaming hot water that smelled heavily of vanilla and cinnamon appeared as she stepped out of her undergarments and into the tub. Freeing her hair of its pins, she sank in deeper, wetting her hair in preparation to be washed. The more she thought about Regina, the angrier she became with the brunette.
"Who the hell does she think she is? Playing me like some toy! I'm done with love and I am finished with Regina Mills!" She huffed but that didn't stop the tears from cascading on down. She took her time washing her body, enjoying the feeling of the piping hot water relaxing her tense muscles. When the water turned cold, she got out not even bothering with a robe as she quickly prepared for bed.
"Love truly is a weakness." Emma said bitterly before falling into a fitful slumber.
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"My dear, it is time to begin our day. We have lots to cover so hurry on down so we can begin breakfast." Cora pulled opened the curtains, brightening up the once darker room.
"Can't we just do this tomorrow?" Emma whined pulling her covers over her head before they vanished.
"I expect you dresses and down stairs in no more than twenty minutes" Cora said sternly before leaving the room. Emma quickly jumped out of bed remembering the last time she went against Cora's wishes and slept in she woke up in nothing but her under-dress in the dining hall. She couldn't even look some of the Guards in the eye for nearly two weeks. Slipping on a pair of brown tight riding leathers, a plain shirt and a green vest she made her way down the stairs and into the dining hall.
"Seventeen minutes. I'm impressed!" Zelena teased.
"Oh shut it you! Not everybody can be as chipper as the White Queen in the morning!" Emma shot back causing Zelena to glare at her.
"Well you would know, seeing as your ARE the White Princess." Zelena mocked
"White Princess? I haven't been that since I was six!" Emma scoffed, slumping gracelessly into her seat beside Zelena.
"Well I suppose this is true." Zelena grinned before ruffling Emma's hair. The trio grew silent when Regina walked in head held high not knowing she was proudly displaying a string of purple love bites.
"Why Emma, you sly dog!" Zelena smirked suggestively until she caught Emma's impassive face.
"I can honestly say I am not the cause of that." Emma glared down at her plate
"Oh dear this is very...unpleasant." Zelena swallowed as she looked between the two princesses.
"What are you going on about?" Regina furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"Darling, whomever kept you company last night made sure to let everyone know of your late night activities." Cora informed her slightly disappointed at watching her daughter throw away her second chance at happiness.
"I- uh!" Regina stammered, taking on a ruby colored flush.
"Suddenly my stomach seems to not be agreeing with me. May I be excused?" Emma asked pushing away her plate.
"You may, if you stop by the kitchen and pick up something to put into your stomach. Today we are going to be exercising your magic and everything Zelena taught you. The last thing I need is you fainting" Cora dismissed her.
"Make me proud!" Zelena called out to her , earning a grin from the blonde.
"Regina..." Cora sighed once Emma was out of earshot.
"Mother now isn't the time." Regina interjected
"Oh dear sister I think now is the perfect time. For the past year I've watched you string along Emma like some puppet. Like she is just some pawn in your game when you know how deep her feelings run for you. Yet you chose to sully yourself with filth!" Zelena glared at her little sister
"Don't assume to know my relationship with Emma! She understands I care for her and I just need time." Regina glared back.
"My love, I'm afraid time is something your running out of." Cora shook her head sadly
"What do you claim to know?" Regina challenged her, feeling her rage build up at being double teamed
" I know I watched her yesterday. I saw how hurt she was watching you with that Guard. I know she no longer feels content being your second choice." Cora's voice rose, not willing to be disrespected by her daughter.
"What aren't you saying?" Regina pursed her lips tightly.
"She wont wait forever, dear. She has caught the eye of many and it would be a shame if you were to lose everything because of your fears." Cora told her daughter before rising from the table
"She loves you. She is willing to move heaven and hell just to put a smile on your face. What I don't understand is how you can just knowingly throw that back in her face by choosing to do whatever it is that captures your attention so often." Zelena sighed in disdain
"Have any of you maybe stop to think that I don't want her to love me? That I don't want to lover her, hmm?" Regina growled.
"Well if you would have just said so I would have known!" Came the reply from behind her as she whipped around to a red faced Emma.
"I didn't mean it how you're taking it! What I meant was I don't want to love you!" Regina gritted out.
"Yeah I think I understood that part very clear." Emma snarled
"No you imbecile! I don't want to love you but I do! I just cant- Love is a weakness. My coronation is in less than a full moon. When I become Queen there will be a target on my head, but more importantly yours. People will want to hurt you simply because it would destroy me. I wouldn't be able to live knowing something happened to you because of me. So yes I find comfort in others. That is because they are expendable! I would rather keep you at arms length than lose you!" Regina snapped.
"If you continue to push me away and seek comfort in others, you will lose me regardless!" Emma spat before stalking out the room again. Regina tugged on her hair in sheer frustration when her sister pulled her into an embrace and she allowed herself to cry.
"I can't lose her!" Regina said in between sobs
"You heard her, you need to stop pushing her away. Trust that both of you are the strongest together and that you will weather any storm. Regina it will break you if you let her walk away from you!" Zelena spoke passionately as she wiped the tears from her sisters face.
"I should probably go after her." Regina said with a watery grin.
"Don't let me keep you!" Zelena shooed her off watching the young woman disappear in a cloud of purple.
"Young love is utterly exhausting!" She muttered before turning to eat her unfinished breakfast.